Pakistan Names 113 Certified Tour Operators to Safeguard Umrah Pilgrims from Scams
Pakistan’s religious ministry on Tuesday published a list of 113 certified Umrah companies on its website, urging intending pilgrims to verify credentials of travel agencies before booking tickets to Saudi Arabia to avoid fraud.
Thousands of Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia each month to visit the holy sites in Mecca and Medina for the voluntary Umrah pilgrimage, a shorter version of Hajj.
The ministry issues a list of certified Umrah companies each year to help these pilgrims avoid being defrauded by scammers posing as Umrah service providers.
“Umrah pilgrims must verify the company from the ministry’s website before booking,” the ministry said. “The money should be paid into the company account through banks.”
The statement came days after Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency arrested a woman in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for allegedly running a multi-million-rupee fraud involving Hajj and Umrah packages, Pakistani state media reported.
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The woman was wanted in two cases dating back to 2017 and 2018.
The religious affairs ministry urged pilgrims to obtain a copy of the payment receipt and agreement from the company.
“A complete package including visa, air tickets, transport and accommodation should be booked from Umrah companies,” the ministry added.
Source: Arab News
